European floodplain forests: structure, functioning and management

As an introduction to the special issue on European floodplain forests, this paper reviews the fundamental hydrological and geomorphological controls on floodplain biodiversity and river-forest interactions. The role of the energy/slope gradient and channel conditions (including number of channels) can be seen as critical in determining the nature and dynamics of floodplain woodland and biodiversity. These factors also control the processing of materials and nutrients in forested floodplains. The biogeochemistry of floodplain forests is complicated by multi-dimensional interactions between substrate, hydrology and vegetation which include longitudinal interactions (up and downstream), and vertical interactions (e.g. between channels and banks and live and dead-water zones). All of these factors complicate the application of the river continuum concept as do natural variations caused by geomorphological inheritance and multiple channels. The distribution and status of European floodplain woodlands and the history of floodplain forests in the British Isles are briefly outlined. Lastly the paper considers the possibilities for the partial afforestation of some British Floodplains and the potential environmental benefits.